Mashed Potatoes The Pioneer Woman Way Recipes

PIONEER WOMAN'S DELICIOUS, CREAMY MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and rinse off. Cut them in half or quarters into about the same size and place in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and cook until just done. Drain potatoes into a colander. Shake off the excess water from potatoes and return them to the saucepan you cooked them and place back on the burner. Turn the heat on low and mash potatoes.
• Turn the heat off and slice in the softened butter and cream cheese. Next add the half and half-start with 1/2 cup, then add more if needed, seasoned salt and pepper. Mash everything together. Add more half and half and seasoning if needed. PW says try not to oversalt but definitely don't undersalt!
• Spread mashed potatoes into a greased baking dish. If you like, slice 1/4 cup butter into pats and place on top of the poatatoes. (Pioneer Woman says you can never have enough butter.). Cover the dish.
• At this point you can bake it in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes or cover and refrigerate a day or two. If refrigerated, remove an hour before baking so the center can warm up and then bake as directed. PW says to bake it covered but she has baked it uncovered with no problems.

CREAMY MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces that are generally the same size. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. (When they're cooked through a fork should easily slide into the potatoes with no resistance, and the potatoes should almost, but not totally, fall apart.)
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a large colander. Place them back into the dry pot and put the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all the steam to escape before adding in all the other ingredients.
• Turn off the heat and add the butter, cream cheese and about 1/2 cup of half-and-half. Mash, mash, mash! Next, add about 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well, and then taste and add more half-and-half, seasoning salt and pepper if needed.
• Transfer the potatoes to a medium-sized baking dish. Throw a few pats of butter over the top of the potatoes and place in the oven until the butter is melted and the potatoes are warmed through.

CAJUN MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes in a large colander. Place them back into the dry pot and put the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all of the steam to escape.
• Turn off the heat before adding the butter, cream cheese, heavy cream and Cajun Seasoning. Mash, mash, mash! Next, add the seasoning salt, salt and pepper. Mash to combine.
• Place the lid on the pan to keep the potatoes warm until you are ready to serve.
• Combine the garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, salt and cayenne.

BROWN BUTTER MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, rinse in cold water and cut into fourths. Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown, 2 to 3 minutes, being careful not to burn it. Swirl the pan as you go, stopping when the solids turn medium to deep golden brown.
• Drain the potatoes, then return them to the pot. With the burner on low heat, mash the potatoes with a potato masher; the more steam that's released while you mash, the better. Mash for about 5 minutes. Turn off the burner.
• Add the cream cheese, half-and-half, cream, some salt and pepper and three-quarters of the brown butter to the pot and stir to combine. If the mixture needs thinning, add some milk. Check the seasonings, adding salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the remaining brown butter over the top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Slice the top third off the head of garlic. Place on a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with the thyme leaves and some kosher salt and pepper, then place the top back on the garlic. Wrap in the foil and roast until the garlic is brown and very soft, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cover the potatoes with cold water in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to the water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, about 15 minutes. Simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender, another 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the hot chicken broth. Squeeze the roasted garlic out of its skin into a small bowl, drizzling in any olive oil from the foil. Mash the garlic smooth with a fork. Add the garlic to the potatoes and mash until smooth using an immersion blender fitted with the whisk attachment. Add more broth as needed. Once smooth, add three-quarters of the chives and some sea salt and black pepper, then mix through.
• Tip into a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining chives.

THE PIONEER WOMAN'S CREAMY MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
• Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a large colander. Place them back into the dry pot and put the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all the steam to escape before adding in all the other ingredients.
• Turn off the heat and add 1 1/2 sticks butter, the cream cheese, heavy cream, seasoned salt, kosher salt and pepper. Mash to combine.
• Spread the potatoes in the prepared baking dish. Throw pats of the remaining butter over the top of the potatoes and bake until the butter is melted and the potatoes are warmed through, 20 to 30 minutes.

MY RENDITION OF PIONEER WOMAN'S MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place chopped potatoes in a pot of boiling water. Leave the skins on or off according to your preference. I like texture so I left the skins on.
• Let potatoes boil until soft or about 15 mintues.
• Drain and place back in pot. Turn heat on low and let the potatoes steam for a minute or two. You want them to release a little steam so they do not get watered down or grainy.
• 4 Mash potatoes a bit, then add butter. Once butter is particularly incorporated add 4 oz of cream cheese.
• Next add sour cream and incorporate. If the mixture needs to be thinned add some half and half to the mixture.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.